Over there, the Hongli residence was bustling with activity, but one place stood out as particularly quiet: Qiushui Pavilion and Langyue Pavilion.
Gao Xiyue got up early. Like Su Shi, she was a concubine of Hongli and lived in a small room. Today was the day that the principal wife and the secondary wife entered the mansion. Whether she could live a good life in the Prince's mansion in the future depended not only on the Prince but also on the principal wife and the secondary wife. Therefore, she had to make a good impression on the principal wife no matter what.
Since she had nothing to do in her own house anyway, Gao Xiyue decided to go to Su Lufu's Qiushui Pavilion, thinking that the two of them could discuss what to do next.
Gao Xiyue arrived at Su Lufu's Autumn Water Pavilion. Su Lufu was playing the zither, smiling gently. Her braids swayed lightly as she slowly raised her head, smiled faintly, and with a slight lift of her right hand, turned her head slightly, flicking out her water sleeves. The sleeves perfectly concealed her face, giving her a somewhat veiled appearance, like a pipa player half-concealing her face. Her slender, jade-like hands moved like a gently flowing stream, clear and quiet. The babbling brook, the birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, the green grass and wildflowers blooming in competition, seemed like the rising wind and surging clouds, the waves crashing on the shore... a melody that moved the world.
After she finished playing the piano, Gao Xiyue clapped her hands and said, "Sister, you have such good piano skills."
"What brings you here, little sister?" Su Lufu asked.
"Sister, I'm a little nervous being alone in my room. The principal wife and the concubine will be entering the house soon. I don't know how we'll get along with each other in the future."
Su Lufu stood up and walked to Gao Xiyue's side. The two stood together at the entrance of Qiushui Pavilion, listening to the lively music in the main courtyard and front courtyard. They felt a little nervous but also hopeful.
"I just hope that this principal wife is easy to get along with. After all, there are many examples of principal wives being jealous and killing princesses openly or secretly. I don't want us to end up like that," Su Lufu said.
Gao Xiyue said, "I've already inquired about it. People say that this principal wife is the eldest daughter of the Fucha clan. She is beautiful, virtuous, dignified, and elegant, so she should be easy to get along with."
“But…” she changed the subject, “the situation is less certain for a concubine.”
Su Lu helped her up and asked, "What do you mean? Has the concubine done anything wrong?"
Gao Xiyue said, "Sister, do you know whose daughter this concubine is?"
Su Lufu said, "I have heard about it; it seems to be related to the Ulanara family."
“Exactly,” Gao Xiyue said. “Our concubine is the eldest daughter of the Ulanara family, and I heard she is the Empress’s niece. She has a very cold personality, and if we offend her, we’ll be in big trouble.”
Su Lufu said, "Really? The concubine comes from a prestigious family and is a lady of high birth. She wouldn't be that difficult to please?"
Gao Xiyue said, "It's better to be safe than sorry. She is the eldest daughter of the Ulanara family, and the Ulanara clan is the Empress's maternal family. We need to be careful under her."
Su Lufu nodded: "Yes, you're right, but how come our Prince would marry the Empress's niece?"
Lady Gao knew what she meant by asking that question: how could Consort Xi, Hongli's birth mother, be related to the Empress by marriage when they were already mortal enemies?
"I don't know. I'm wondering about it too. It shouldn't be possible," Gao Xiyue said.
“Your Highnesses, I know a little bit about this,” suddenly said a maid who was tending to the flowers and plants in front of the Qiushui Pavilion.
"Come here." Gao Xiyue beckoned to her when she saw that she had responded.
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